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Sunday, August 25, 2019

Family Fun at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News

Looking for a fun day trip or weekend getaway to do with the kids? The Virginia Living Museum is approximately a 5 hour drive from most south central Pennsylvania locations and is located in Newport News. Admission ranges from $15.00 to $20.00 per person, special events and tours cost extra.

The museum is home to 250+ animal species that are native to the state of Virginia. You'll have the opportunity to American Alligators, Bald Eagles, Beavers, Barking Tree Frogs, Bobcats, Pelicans, Ducks, Coyotes, Snakes, Lizards, Owls, Egrets, Herons, Squirrels, Sea Turtles, River Otters, Red and Gray Foxes, Raccoons, Skunks, and more!

If you enjoy aquatic animals you'll have the opportunity to see American Eels, Beach Fish, Coral Fish, Flounder, Loggerhead Sea Turtles, James River Fishes, Mountain Stream Fishes, Shrimp, Seahorses, Trout, etc. You'll see some of them indoors and others are located in outdoor exhibits and areas.

During out visit the kids enjoyed the museum's Shark Zone which is a special event exhibit that runs through September 2nd, 2019. You'll learn about our beautiful oceans and the amazing animals that live there. You can touch live "cat sharks" in the touch-tank, track a shark as it swims in the ocean in real time, enter a shark cage and come face-to-face with a Great White Shark (a replica), and dig for shark teeth in Fossil Beach. Shark Zone offers a lot of great hands-on activities for the kids!

The Outdoor Boardwalk is a 3/4 elevated boardwalk that gives visitors the opportunity to see Red Wolves, River Otters, Wild Turkeys, Deer, Red Foxes, Coyotes, Turtles, Bull Frogs, and other animals that are native to the wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. There are information stations along the way where visitors can stop to read the information about specific animals, plants and the environment related to them. It's a great learning experience and gets you outside into the fresh air.

Outside the museum you'll explore Dinosaur Discovery Trail where you'll see 16 realistic, prehistoric dinosaurs who use to roam the earth. Follow the marked trail to see them up close and along the way the kids can play around in the man-made Dig Pits. A few of the dinosaurs that you'll see along the way include: Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and others.

Hours of Operation: Open daily 9am-5pmClosed: Thanksgiving, December 24th, 25th and January 1st

Inside the museum you'll find the Wild Side Cafe that serves a casual menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is limited indoor seating with over-flow seating located on the outdoor patio that's adjacent to the cafe. If you're looking to do a little shopping you'll want to check out the Wild Things Museum Store to pick up your gifts and souvenirs.

Our family had a great time exploring the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News and look forward to visiting again next year. When planning your visit we recommend that you allow at least 3 hours in your schedule, so that you can see and do all of the wonderful activities that the facility has to offer. You'll want to wear comfortable walking shoes and wear clothing appropriate for the current weather conditions.